Nanotechnology

1. Nanotechnology Intro to Engineering & Design, B6 04.12.12 By Shay Townson Penelope Cox Laura Barr

2. What is nanotechnology? • Technology in the smallest possible level • makes it possible to manipulate matter on the atomic and molecular scale

3. How would you explain to a 10 year old how small a nanometer is? • Nanometers are so small that one hair on your head is about 90 nanometers wide.

4. What is so groundbreaking about nanotechnology? What makes this field of science worthy of the funding it requires? • Nanotechnology can literally be applied to any field of human life, and used to improve the environment, the human condition, and living conditions of the entire world.

5. Where is nanotechnology being used today? • Some of the applications of nanotechnology are: • Self-cleaning wool and silk whose altered particles “eat” stains • Sunscreen that uses nanotechnology to absorb more light than normal brands • Nano-engineered plastics and packaging products • Synthetic bone engineered with components that real bone is composed of • Using nanotechnology to liquefy coal and convert it to gas

6. Nanotechnology is being developed primarily in the field of medicine • Here are some of the major ways in which nanotechnology is revolutionizing medicine: • Nanobots/nanocomputers • Cell repair • Cancer treatment • Aging • Heart disease • Drug delivery • Seizures • Disease prevento\ion • And many more. . .

7. The Problem • Human nerve cells do not repair themselves. This is because the human central nervous system does not produce enough growth-promoting molecules. When parts of the central nervous system are critically injured, it cannot generate new neurons nor regenerate damaged ones. This is thanks to a type of cell called the glial cell.

8. The Neuron

9. The Culprits • Around 90% of the cells in the CNS are glial cells, not neurons. • These support the neurons by keeping the environment outside the neurons in suitable conditions. • In the CNS, two types of glial “culprits” inhibit axon regeneration. These are called oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. • The growth-inhibited qualities of these cells help stabilize the CNS. These growth-inhibitors provide a cellular ‘scaffold’ so that neurons only sprout where they are intended, thus keeping the CNS organized.

10. The Solution • Kokoro™ • Nanomachines that can repair/enhance neural synapses/nerves • Artificial axons and dendrites repair issues with neurons by connecting tissue and creating a pathway for the natural electrical pulses. • Can function in groups of varying sizes, depends on programming

11. The Solution cont. • Since neurons function with electrical pulses, the nanobots are programmed to detect certain electrical discrepancies in the brain/nervous system (depending on the condition of the patient). • Injected into the spinal cord, travels up the CNS • Powered by thermal energy and/or bioelectricity • Made primarily out of carbon alloys

12. Advantages. . . • Among the mental imperfections these nanobots can begin to repair, are: • Alzheimer’s disease • Huntington’s disease • Dyslexia • Autism • Brain damage • Epilsepsy/stroke • Tourette’s syndrome • Paraplegia • Migraines • Brain damage • And others. . .

13. Grand Challenges of Engineering • Our nanobot will be. . . • Engineering better medicines • Reserve-engineering the brain

14. Marketing • The Kokoro™ are packaged by the thousands in nanofiber tubes encased in plastic and shipped to hospitals • Three different sizes of tubes can be purchased, depending on insertion point • For professional use only, cannot be purchased by individuals • Each tube will run anywhere between $25,000 - $31,000